System, and control method and program for input/output requests for storage systems

ABSTRACT

Virtual first logical volumes are provided to a host, a virtual second logical volume correlated with any one of the first logical volumes is created in a storage node in correlation with a storage control module disposed in the storage node, a correspondence relationship between the first and second logical volumes is managed as mapping information, a storage node which is an assigning distribution of an I/O request is specified on the basis of the mapping information in a case where the I/O request in which the first logical volume is designated as an I/O destination is given from the host, the I/O request is assigned to the storage control module of its own node in a case where the specified storage node is its own node, and the I/O request is assigned to another storage node in a case where the specified storage node is another storage node.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/845,891 filed Apr. 10, 2020 now U.S. Pat. No. 11,256,582, and titled“SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR INPUT/OUTPUT REQUESTS FORSTORAGE SYSTEMS, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 16/281,327 filed Feb. 21, 2019 now U.S. Pat. No. 10,635,551, andtitled “SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR INPUT/OUTPUT REQUESTSFOR STORAGE SYSTEMS,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/917,359 filed Mar. 9, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,229,021,issued on Mar. 12, 2019, and titled “SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD ANDPROGRAM FOR INPUT/OUTPUT REQUESTS FOR STORAGE SYSTEMS,” which claims thebenefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-231216 filed Nov. 30,2017. The entire content of the above identified application isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system, and a control method and aprogram for the system, and is suitable to be applied to, for example,an information processing system including a plurality of storage nodesin each of which one or a plurality of software defined storages (SDSs)are installed. Hereinafter, the SDS indicates a storage device built byinstalling software having a storage function in a general purposeserver apparatus.

Background Art

In the related art, existing control software (storage control software)used for a controller of a storage device is configured as a dedicateditem corresponding to hardware in which the storage control software isinstalled. Thus, if the storage control software is merely installed ina bare metal server without being changed, there is a problem in that itis difficult to form a scale-out configuration due to a differencebetween architectures.

This is because such existing storage control software is configured tobe intended for only a process completed in a storage device thereof,and thus the existing storage control software cannot be used for ascale-out configuration. The following US-A-2017/0017433 discloses thatoff-road data copying is performed in cooperation between two storagedevices with an HA configuration, but this is only the cooperationbetween the two storage devices.

A process in a shared memory performed by the existing storage controlsoftware depends on hardware, and thus there is also a problem in thatthe same process cannot be performed in a general purpose serverapparatus.

In contrast, in recent years, development of an SDS built by installingstorage control software in a general purpose server apparatus hasprogressed. The SDS does not require dedicated hardware, and has highexpandability, and thus the demand therefor tends to increase. As atechnique related to such an SDS, for example, the followingUS-A-2016/0173598 discloses a technique of transmitting input/output(I/O) between servers with an SDS configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in recent years, an amount of data accumulated in companies,government agencies, and the like has been increasing. In considerationof such a situation, a storage device is preferably configured to beeasily scaled out.

Even after scale-out is executed, if a system can be built such that ahost apparatus can easily access desired data without being aware of astorage device which is to be set as an issue destination of an I/Orequest, setting of a host apparatus after scale-out is unnecessary, andthus expandability of the system may be improved.

The present invention has been made in consideration of theabove-described circumstances, and is to propose a system, and a controlmethod and a program for the system, capable of improving expandability.

In order to solve the above-described problem, according to the presentinvention, there is provided a system including a cluster formed of aplurality of storage nodes, in which each of the storage nodes includesa storage control module that performs I/O processes based on anassigned input/output (I/O) request, and a frontend module that assignsthe I/O request given from a host apparatus to the storage controlmodule of its own node or corresponding another storage node, in whichone or a plurality of virtual first logical volumes are provided to thehost apparatus as storage regions for reading and writing data, and avirtual second logical volume correlated with any one of the firstlogical volumes is created in the storage node in correlation with thestorage control module disposed in the storage node, in which the hostapparatus transmits the I/O request in which the first logical volume isdesignated as an I/O destination to the storage node, and in which thefrontend module manages a correspondence relationship between the firstand second logical volumes as mapping information, and specifies thestorage node in which the storage control module correlated via thefirst logical volume designated as an I/O destination in the I/O requestand the second logical volume is disposed on the basis of the mappinginformation in a case where the I/O request is given from the hostapparatus, assigns the I/O request to the storage control module of itsown node in a case where the specified storage node is its own node, andassigns the I/O request to another storage node in a case where thespecified storage node is another storage node.

According to the present invention, there is provided a control methodfor a system including cluster formed of a plurality of storage nodes,each of the storage nodes including a storage control module thatperforms I/O processes based on an assigned input/output (I/O) request,and one or a plurality of virtual first logical volumes being providedto the host apparatus as storage regions for reading and writing data,the control method including a first step of creating a virtual secondlogical volume correlated with any one of the first logical volumes inthe storage node in correlation with the storage control module disposedin the storage node, and managing a correspondence relationship betweenthe first and second logical volumes as mapping information in each ofthe storage nodes; a second step of specifying the storage node in whichthe storage control module correlated via the first logical volumedesignated as an I/O destination in the I/O request and the secondlogical volume is disposed on the basis of the mapping information in acase where the I/O request in which the first logical volume isdesignated as an I/O destination is given from the host apparatus; and athird step of assigning the I/O request to the storage control module ofits own node in a case where the specified storage node is its own node,and assigning the I/O request to another storage node in a case wherethe specified storage node is another storage node.

According to the present invention, there is provided a program executedin a storage node in a system including cluster formed of a plurality ofthe storage nodes, each of the storage nodes including a storage controlmodule that performs I/O processes based on an assigned input/output(I/O) request, and one or a plurality of virtual first logical volumesbeing provided to the host apparatus as storage regions for reading andwriting data, the program causing the storage node to execute a firststep of creating a virtual second logical volume correlated with any oneof the first logical volumes in the storage node in correlation with thestorage control module disposed in the storage node, and managing acorrespondence relationship between the first and second logical volumesas mapping information in each of the storage nodes; a second step ofspecifying the storage node in which the storage control modulecorrelated via the first logical volume designated as an I/O destinationin the I/O request and the second logical volume is disposed on thebasis of the mapping information in a case where the I/O request inwhich the first logical volume is designated as an I/O destination isgiven from the host apparatus; and a third step of assigning the I/Orequest to the storage control module of its own node in a case wherethe specified storage node is its own node, and assigning the I/Orequest to another storage node in a case where the specified storagenode is another storage node.

According to the system, and the control method and the program for thesystem of the present invention, a host apparatus can read and writedesired data without being aware of a storage node which is an issuedestination of an I/O request regardless of execution of scale-out ofthe storage node.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a system,and a control method and a program for the system, capable of improvingexpandability. Problems, configurations, and effects other than thosedescribed above will become apparent through description of thefollowing embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the entire configuration of aninformation processing system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of astorage node.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of thestorage node.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a correspondence relationshipamong storage regions in the storage node.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a storagecontrol module pair table.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a frontendtable volume table.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a mappingtable.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a frontendtarget table.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a storagecontrol module information management table.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a globalpool volume table.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a correspondencerelationship of information among the respective tables.

FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of processes duringinternal volume creation.

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of a series ofprocesses performed in a cluster in a case where a failure occurs in astorage node in the cluster.

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of a series ofprocesses performed in a cluster in a case where a storage node is addedto the cluster.

FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of write processesperformed in the information processing system.

FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of read processesperformed in the information processing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an embodiment of thepresent invention will be described in detail. The following descriptionand drawings are examples for explaining the present invention, and maybe omitted and simplified for clarification of the description asappropriate. It cannot be said that all combinations of featuresdescribed in the embodiment are essential to solving means of theinvention. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment, andall application examples matching the spirit of the present inventionare included in the technical scope of the present invention. A personskilled in the art may apply various additions or modifications to thepresent invention within the scope of the present invention. The presentinvention may be implemented in other various aspects. Each constituentelement may be formed of a single element or a plurality of elementsunless particularly limited.

In the following description, various pieces of information aredescribed in expressions such as a “table”, a “chart”, a “list”, and a“queue”, but various pieces of information may be expressed by datastructures other than the expressions. In order to indicate independencefrom a data structure, an “XX table”, an “XX list”, or the like will bereferred to as “XX information” in some cases. In a case where thecontent of each piece of information is described, expressions such as“identification information”, an “identifier”, a “name”, an “ID”, and a“number” are used, but these can be replaced with each other.

In the following description, in a case where the same kind of elementsare described without being differentiated from each other, a referencenumeral or a common number in reference numerals may be used, and, in acase where the same kind of elements are described to be differentiatedfrom each other, reference numerals of the elements may be used or IDsallocated to the elements may be used instead of the reference numerals.

In the following description, a process performed by executing a programwill be described in some cases, but, the program is executed by atleast one processor (for example, a CPU), and thus a defined process isperformed by using a storage resource (for example, a memory) and/or aninterface device (for example, a communication port) as appropriate.Therefore, the processor may be regarded to mainly perform the process.Similarly, the subject of processes performed by executing the programmay be a controller, an apparatus, a system, a computer, a node, astorage system, a storage device, a server, a management computer, aclient, or a host, having the processor. The subject (for example, aprocessor) of processes performed by executing the program may include ahardware circuit performing some or all of the processes. For example,the subject of processes performed by executing the program may includehardware circuits performing encryption and decryption, or compressionand decompression. The processor operates as a functional unit whichrealizes a predetermined function by performing operations according tothe program. An apparatus and a system including the processor are anapparatus and a system including such a functional unit.

The program may be installed into an apparatus such as a computer from aprogram source. The program source may be, for example, a programdistribution server or a computer readable storage medium. In a casewhere the program source is the program distribution server, the programdistribution server may include a processor (for example, a CPU) and astorage resource, and the storage resource may store a distributionprogram and a distribution target program. The processor of the programdistribution server may execute the distribution program such that theprocessor of the program distribution server distributes thedistribution target program to other computers. In the followingdescription, two or more programs may be realized as a single program,and a single program may be realized as two or more programs.

(1) Configuration of Information Processing System of the PresentEmbodiment

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an information processing system 1 ofthe present embodiment. The information processing system 1 isconfigured to include a plurality of compute nodes 2, a plurality ofstorage nodes 3, and a management node 4.

The compute nodes 2, the storage nodes 3, and the management node 4 areconnected to each other via a storage service network 5 formed of, forexample, a fibre channel (FC), Ethernet (registered trademark),InfiniBand, or a wireless local area network (LAN). The storage nodes 3are connected to each other via a backend network 6 formed of Ethernet(registered trademark), InfiniBand, or a wireless LAN.

However, the storage service network 5 and the backend network 6 may beformed of the same network, and each compute node 2 and each storagenode 3 may be connected to a management network other than the storageservice network 5 or the backend network 6.

Each of the compute nodes 2 is a general purpose computer apparatuswhich functions as a host (host apparatus) for the storage nodes 3. Thecompute node 2 may be a virtual computer apparatus such as a virtualmachine. The compute node 2 transmits a read request or a write request(hereinafter, collectively referred to as an input/output (I/O) requestas appropriate) to the storage node 3 via the storage service network 5in response to a user's operation or a request from an installedapplication program.

The storage node 3 is a general purpose physical server apparatusproviding a storage region for reading and writing data to the computenode 2. As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the storage node 3 is configured toinclude a central processing unit (CPU) 10, a memory 11, a plurality ofstorage devices 12, and first and second communication devices 13 and14, and the CPU 10, the storage devices 12, and the first and secondcommunication devices 13 and 14 are connected to each other via aninternal network 15. Each storage node 3 includes one or more CPUs 10,one or more memories 11, one or more storage devices 12, one or morefirst communication devices 13, and one or more second communicationdevices 14.

The CPU 10 is a processor controlling the entire operation of thestorage node 3. The memory 11 is formed of a volatile semiconductormemory such as a static random access memory (SRAM) or a dynamic RAM(DRAM), and is used as a work memory of the CPU 10 in order totemporarily hold various programs or necessary data. The programs storedin the memory 11 are executed by at least one CPU 10, and thus variousprocesses are performed in the entire storage node 3 as will bedescribed later.

The storage device 12 is formed of a large-capacity nonvolatile storagedevice such as a non-volatile memory (NVMe) drive, a Serial AttachedSmall Computer System Interface (SCSI) (SAS) drive, Serial AdvancedTechnology Attachment (ATA) (SATA), a solid state drive (SSD), or astorage class memory (SCM), and provides a storage region for readingand writing data to the compute node 2.

The first communication device 13 is an interface used for the storagenode 3 to perform communication with the compute node 2 or themanagement node 4 via the storage service network 5, and is formed of,for example, an FC card or a wireless LAN card. The first communicationdevice 13 performs protocol control during communication with thecompute node 2 or the management node.

The second communication device 14 is an interface for the storage node3 to perform communication with other storage nodes 3 via the backendnetwork 6, and is formed of, a network interface card (NIC) or awireless LAN card. The second communication device 14 performs protocolcontrol during communication with other storage nodes 3.

In a case of the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1 , eachstorage node 3 is collected in a group called a cluster 7 along withanother storage node or a plurality of other storage nodes 3, and ismanaged in the unit of the cluster 7. In the example illustrated in FIG.1 , a case where only one cluster 7 is set is illustrated, but aplurality of clusters 7 may be set in the information processing system1. The cluster 7 may be referred to as a distributed storage system.

The management node 4 is a computer apparatus for a manager(hereinafter, referred to as a system manager) of the informationprocessing system 1 to perform configuration management or varioussettings of the information processing system 1. The management node 4gives a necessary instruction to the compute node 2 or the storage node3 in response to the system manager's operation.

FIG. 3 illustrates a logical configuration of the storage node 3according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 3 , eachstorage node 3 is configured to include a data plane 24 including afrontend module 20, one or a plurality of storage control modules 21, acapacity control module 22, and a backend module 23, and a control plane27 including a cluster control module 25 and a node control module 26.The data plane 24 is a functional unit performing I/O processesregarding reading and writing of data, and the control plane 27 is afunctional unit controlling the entire cluster 7 (FIG. 1 ) or its ownnode.

The frontend module 20 is software which functions as a frontend of anI/O process regarding scale-out in the storage node 3. For example, in acase where an I/O request is sent from the compute node 2, the frontendmodule 20 assigns the I/O request to the storage control module 21 ofits own node which has to execute the I/O request or to another storagenode 3 in which the storage control module 21 having to execute the I/Orequest is disposed.

The storage control module 21 is software which functions as acontroller of a software defined storage (SDS). The storage controlmodule 21 may also be referred to as storage control software or astorage control program. The storage control module 21 receives an I/Orequest from the compute node 2, sent from the frontend module 20, andissues an I/O command corresponding to the received I/O request to thebackend module 23.

Here, in a case of the present embodiment, each storage control module21 installed in the storage node 3 is set in a pair forming a redundancyconfiguration along with another storage control module 21 disposed inanother storage node 3. Hereinafter, this pair will be referred to as astorage control module pair 28.

FIG. 3 illustrates a case where a single storage control module pair 28is formed by two storage control modules 21, and, also in the followingdescription, a description will be made assuming that the storagecontrol module pair 28 is formed by two storage control modules 21, buta single redundancy configuration may be formed by three or more storagecontrol modules 21.

In the storage control module pair 28, one storage control module 21 isset to a state (which is an active system state and will be hereinafterreferred to as an active mode) of being able to receives an I/O requestfrom the compute node 2, and the other storage control module 21 is setto a state (which is a standby system state and will be hereinafterreferred to as a passive mode) of not receiving an I/O request from thecompute node 2.

In the storage control module pair 28, in a case where a failure occursin the storage control module (hereinafter, as appropriate, referred toas an active storage control module) 21 set to an active mode or thestorage node 3 in which the active storage control module 21 isdisposed, a state of the storage control module (hereinafter, asappropriate, a passive storage control module) 21 set to a passive modeuntil then is switched to an active mode. Consequently, in a case wherethe active storage control module 21 cannot operate, an I/O processperformed by the active storage control module 21 can be taken over tothe passive storage control module 21 forming the same storage controlmodule pair 28.

The capacity control module 22 is software having a function ofallocating a physical storage region provided by the storage device 12(FIG. 2 ) of its own node or another node, to the storage control modulepair 28 formed by the active storage control module 21 disposed in itsown node. The capacity control module 22 may also be referred to ascapacity control software or a capacity control program.

The backend module 23 is software which functions as a backend of an I/Oprocess in the storage node 3. For example, the backend module 23 readsand writes data into and from the storage region allocated to thestorage control module pair 28 formed by the active storage controlmodule 21 by the capacity control module 22 in response to theabove-described I/O command given from the active storage control module21.

On the other hand, the cluster control module 25 is software having afunction of performing a control process regarding the entire cluster 7or a control process regarding scale-out of the cluster 7. The clustercontrol module 25 may also be referred to as cluster control software ora cluster control program. In the information processing system 1, onecluster control module 25 is set as a master among the cluster controlmodules 25 installed in the respective storage nodes 3 in the cluster 7,and only the cluster control module (hereinafter, referred to as amaster cluster control module) 25 set as a master performs variouscontrol processes while maintaining consistency of the entire cluster 7.

For example, the master cluster control module 25 sets the storagecontrol module pair 28 in the cluster 7 in response to a request fromthe management node 4, and registers and manages the set storage controlmodule pair 28 in a storage control module pair table 30 which will bedescribed later in FIG. 5 .

The cluster control modules 25 other than the master cluster controlmodule 25 are set to any operation mode such as a hot standby mode or awarm standby mode in preparation for a failure in the master clustercontrol module 25.

The hot standby mode is an operation mode in which, in a case where afailure occurs in the master cluster control module 25 or the storagenode 3 in which the master cluster control module 25 is installed, anactivated standby state is maintained such that a process which is beingperformed by the master cluster control module 25 until then can beimmediately taken over.

The cluster control module 25 in the hot standby mode holds managementinformation with the same content as that of all pieces of managementinformation managed by the master cluster control module 25, such as thestorage control module pair table 30 (FIG. 5 ), so as to immediatelytake over a process which is being performed by the master clustercontrol module 25.

In a case where the management information held in the master clustercontrol module 25 is updated, a difference in the management informationbefore and after being updated is sent as difference data to all of thecluster control modules 25 in the hot standby mode from the mastercluster control module 25 via the backend network 6. Thus, themanagement information held in the cluster control modules 25 is updatedin the same manner as the management information held in the mastercluster control module 25 by the cluster control modules 25 on the basisof the difference data.

Since the cluster control module 25 in the hot standby mode holds thesame management information as that of the master cluster control module25 at all times, even in a case where a failure occurs in the mastercluster control module 25 or the like, and the cluster control module 25in the hot standby mode until then is switched to a “master”, a controlprocess which is being performed by the original master cluster controlmodule 25 until then can be taken over to the cluster control module(master cluster control module) 25 switched to a “master”.

The warm standby mode is an operation mode in a standby state in whichactivation is stopped. In a case where the number of cluster controlmodules set to the hot standby mode is equal to or less than a presetthreshold value, a state of any one of the cluster control modules 25set to the warm standby mode is switched to the hot standby mode.

In order to prevent a state in which two or more master cluster controlmodules 25 are present, the master cluster control module 25 operatesthree or more cluster control modules 25, and selects a master clustercontrol module from the among operated cluster control modules 25through majority decision. The remaining operated cluster controlmodules 25 are set to the hot standby mode.

The node control module 26 is a program having a function of performingvarious control processes completed in its own node in response to arequest from the master cluster control module 25. The node controlmodule 26 may also be referred to as node control software or a nodecontrol program. Actually, the master cluster control module 25 requeststhe node control module 26 of each storage node 3 to perform a processcompleted in each storage node 3 such that a load does not concentratethereon. If the request is given, the node control module 26 performs acontrol process on the data plane 24 of its own node in response to therequest.

As mentioned above, in the information processing system 1, a command ora request is sent from the master cluster control module 25 to thefrontend module 20 or the storage control module 21 of each storage node3 via the node control module 26 of the storage node 3. However, in thefollowing description, for better understanding, the description will bemade assuming that a command or a request from the master clustercontrol module 25 for the frontend module 20 or the storage controlmodule 21 of each storage node 3 is directly sent from the mastercluster control module 25 to the frontend module 20 or the storagecontrol module 21.

FIG. 4 illustrates a correspondence relationship among storage regionsin the information processing system 1 of the present embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 4 , in the present embodiment, a physical storageregion provided by each of the storage devices 12 of each storage node 3is divided into storage regions (hereinafter, referred to as physicalchunks) PC each having a predetermined size and is managed by thecapacity control module 22.

The capacity control module 22 correlates each of a plurality ofphysical chunks PC provided by each of the storage devices 12 of otherstorage nodes 3 with a logical storage region (hereinafter, referred toas a logical chunk) LC with the same size as that of the physical chunkPC, and correlates the logical chunk LC with a pool volume PLVOL withthe same size as that of the logical chunk LC via an external volumeExtVOL.

The capacity control module 22 creates a pool PL by collecting aplurality of pool volumes PLVOL correlated with the logical chunk LC inthe above-described way, and allocates the created pool PL to thestorage control module pair 28 (FIG. 3 ) to which the active storagecontrol module 21 disposed in its own node belongs. In theabove-described way, the capacity control module 22 allocates the poolPL to each storage control module pair 28 as a dedicated storage region.

An internal volume IVOL which is one or a plurality of virtual logicalvolumes is created on the pool PL in response to an instruction givenfrom the system manager via the management node 4. The internal volumeIVOL is defined in the storage node 3 in which the active storagecontrol module 21 of the two storage control modules 21 forming thestorage control module pair 28 correlated with the pool PL is disposed.

Each internal volume IVOL is correlated with a global pool volume GVOL,on a one-to-one basis, which is a virtual logical volume defined in eachstorage node 3 in which the active storage control module 21 or thepassive storage control module 21 is disposed, via a virtual port VPTdefined in the active storage control module 21 forming thecorresponding storage control module pair 28 (the storage control modulepair 28 correlated with the internal volume IVOL via the pool PL) and avirtual port VPT defined in the passive storage control module 21forming the storage control module pair 28.

All of the global pool volumes GVOL in the cluster 7 are collected, andare managed as a single pool (hereinafter, referred to as a global pool)GPL crossing all of the storage nodes 3 in the cluster 7.

Each global pool volume GVOL is correlated with a host volume HVOL, on aone-to-N basis, which is a virtual logical volume defined in eachstorage node 3 in which the active storage control module 21 or thepassive storage control module 21 forming the storage control modulepair 28 correlated with the global pool volume GVOL via the internalvolume IVOL is disposed. The host volume HVOL is a volume provided to acompute node as a storage region for reading and writing data.

Each host volume HVOL is correlated with a physical port PPT of thestorage node 3 on a one-to-one basis via a target TG defined in thestorage node 3 in which the active storage control module 21 of thestorage control module pair 28 corresponding to the internal volume IVOLcorrelated with the host volume HVOL via the global pool volume GVOL isdisposed.

The global pool volume GVOL assigned with a unique identification numberin the cluster 7 is created in response to a creation instruction givenfrom the system manager via the management node 4. In this case, theinternal volume IVOL correlated with the global pool volume GVOL on aone-to-one basis is created in correlation with the designated storagecontrol module pair 28 along with the global pool volume GVOL.

When the system manager creates the target TG in the storage node 3 viathe management node 4, the global pool volume GVOL is associated withthe host volume HVOL correlated with the target TG by registering thetarget TG in the global pool volume GVOL.

The global pool volume GVOL is provided to prevent an identificationnumber of the internal volume IVOL correlated with the host volume HVOLfrom being repeated in the cluster 7. Actually, in a case of the presentembodiment, an IVOL number of the internal volume IVOL correlated witheach storage control module pair 28 is unique in the storage node 3, butis not unique in the cluster 7. Thus, in the present embodiment, acorrespondence relationship between the host volume HVOL and theinternal volume IVOL can be uniquely specified by interposing the globalpool volume GVOL having a unique GVOL number in the cluster 7 betweenthe internal volume IVOL and the host volume HVOL.

On the other hand, a plurality of storage nodes 3 forming the cluster 7are regarded as a single storage device when viewed from the computenode 2 side, and thus the host volume HVOL is recognized as a storageregion provided to its own node from the storage device.

However, the host volume HVOL which can be recognized by each computenode 2 is only the host volume HVOL which is set for the compute node 2by the system manager via the management node 4. Therefore, the computenode 2 recognizes the host volume HVOL set by the management node 4 as astorage region provided from the storage device.

Each compute node 2 manages a path to the target TG defined in any ofthe storage nodes 3 in the cluster 7 from a physical port (notillustrated) thereof. In a case where data is read/written from/into thedesired host volume HVOL, the host computer 2 transmits an I/O requestin which the host volume HVOL which is a read/write destination, astorage region which is a read/write destination in the host volumeHVOL, and a data length of target data are designated, to the target TGrecognized by the host computer.

In this case, in each storage node 3, the frontend module 20 (FIG. 3 )manages a correspondence relationship among the host volume HVOL, theglobal pool volume GVOL, and the internal volume IVOL by using afrontend table volume table 31 which will be described later in FIG. 6 ,a mapping table 32 which will be described later in FIG. 7 , and aglobal pool volume table 35 which will be described later in FIG. 10 ;the storage control module 21 manages a correspondence relationship fromthe internal volume IVOL to the logical chunk LC by using a managementtable (not illustrated); and the capacity control module 22 (FIG. 3 )manages a correspondence relationship between the logical chunk LC andthe physical chunk PC by using a management table (not illustrated).

In a case where an I/O request is received from the compute node 2, thefrontend module 20 refers to the mapping table 32 and the global poolvolume table 35, and specifies the storage node 3 in which the activestorage control module 21 correlated via the host volume HVOL, theglobal pool volume GVOL, and the internal volume IVOL in this orderdesignated in the I/O request is disposed.

In a case where the specified storage node 3 is its own node, thefrontend module 20 rewrites a volume number of the host volume HVOLwhich is a read/write destination included in the I/O request into avolume number of the internal volume IVOL correlated with the hostvolume HVOL via the global pool volume GVOL, and then transmits the I/Orequest to the active storage control module 21 of its own node.

In a case where the specified storage node 3 is another storage node 3,the frontend module 20 transmits the I/O request to the specifiedstorage node 3 via the backend network 6. Thus, the frontend module 20of the storage node 3 to which the I/O request is transmitted rewrites avolume number of the host volume HVOL which is a read/write destinationincluded in the I/O request into a volume number of the internal volumeIVOL correlated with the host volume HVOL via the global pool volumeGVOL, and then transmits the I/O request to the corresponding activestorage control module 21 of its own node.

The active storage control module 21 having received the I/O requestspecifies the logical chunk LC correlated via the internal volume IVOL,a storage region in the internal volume IVOL, the pool PL, and theexternal volume ExtVOL in this order designated in the I/O request, anda storage region in the logical chunk LC, by using the above-describedmanagement table (not illustrated).

Thus, in the storage node 3, in a case where the I/O request is a writerequest, the backend module 23 writes data into corresponding storageregions of all of the physical chunks PC correlated with the logicalchunk LC. In a case where the I/O request is a read request, the backendmodule 23 reads data from one physical chunk PC of the physical chunksPC correlated with the logical chunk LC, and transmits the data to thecompute node 2 which is a transmission source of the read request.

In a case of the present embodiment, as described above, the data fromthe compute node 2 is made redundant and is stored in a plurality ofphysical chunks PC correlated with the corresponding logical chunk LCvia the host volume HVOL, the global pool volume GVOL, and the internalvolume IVOL in this order designated in an I/O request. Thus, the numberof physical chunks PC respectively correlated with the logical chunks LCby the capacity control module 22 is determined depending on the setcontent of a redundancy method in the information processing system 1.

For example, in a case of setting in which data is duplicated andstored, two physical chunks PC are correlated with a single logicalchunk LC, and, in a case of setting in which data is multiplexed ofbeing triplicated or more, physical chunks PC of a necessary number ofthree or more are correlated with a single logical chunk LC.

In this case, if the physical chunk PC correlated with the logical chunkLC is selected from among the physical chunks PC in the storage node 3which is different from the storage node 3 in which the active storagecontrol module 21 is disposed, when the capacity control module 22having received an I/O command from the active storage control module 21reads/writes data from/into the physical chunk PC, communication withthe storage node 3 providing the physical chunk PC is necessary, andthus response performance of the system deteriorates as a whole.Therefore, in a case where a plurality of physical chunks PC arecorrelated with the logical chunk LC, it is preferable that one of thephysical chunks PC is selected from physical chunks PCs provided by thestorage device 12 in the storage node 3 in which the active storagecontrol module 21 is disposed from the viewpoint of response performanceof the entire system.

When taking into consideration that the passive storage control module21 is switched to an active mode in a case where a failure occurs in thestorage node 3 in which the active storage control module 21 of thestorage control module pair 28 is disposed, for the same reason, it ispreferable that one of physical chunks PC correlated with the logicalchunk LC is selected from physical chunks PC provided by the storagedevice 12 of the storage node 3 in which the passive storage controlmodule 21 is disposed from the viewpoint of system performance of theentire system.

Therefore, in the information processing system 1, when the capacitycontrol module 22 of each storage node 3 allocates the logical chunk LCto the storage control module pair 28, and correlates a plurality ofphysical chunks PC with the logical chunk LC, the capacity controlmodule preferentially correlates the physical chunk PC provided by thestorage device 12 of the storage node 3 in which the active storagecontrol module 21 of the storage control module pair 28 is disposed andthe physical chunk PC provided by the storage device 12 of the storagenode 3 in which the passive storage control module 21 of the storagecontrol module pair 28 is disposed, with the logical chunk LC.

(2) Configurations of Various Tables

FIGS. 5 to 10 illustrate configuration examples of various tablesincluded in a database (not illustrated) held in the memory 11 of eachstorage node 3 in order to manage a configuration of each storagecontrol module pair 28 or a correspondence relationship among the hostvolume HVOL, the global pool volume GVOL, and the internal volume IVOLdescribed above.

Among the tables, the storage control module pair table 30 illustratedin FIG. 5 , the frontend table volume table 31 illustrated in FIG. 6 ,the mapping table 32 illustrated in FIG. 7 , a frontend target table 33illustrated in FIG. 8 , and the global pool volume 35 illustrated inFIG. 10 are managed by the frontend module 20. A storage control moduleconfiguration information table 34 illustrated in FIG. 9 is managed bythe storage control module 21.

In a case where the storage control module pair table 30, the frontendtable volume table 31, the mapping table 32, the frontend target table33, and the global pool volume table 35 are updated in any storage node3 in the cluster 7, the tables are similarly updated in all otherstorage nodes 3 in synchronization therewith, and are thus maintained inthe same content among the respective storage nodes 3.

The storage control module pair table 30 is a table for the mastercluster control module 25 (FIG. 4 ) to manage the storage control modulepair 28 (FIG. 3 ) set in the cluster 7, and is configured to include apair number field 30A, an active field 30B, and a passive field 30C asillustrated in FIG. 5 . In the storage control module pair table 30, onerow corresponds to one storage control module pair 28, and all storagecontrol module pairs 28 in the cluster 7 are registered in the storagecontrol module pair table 30.

An identification number (pair number) specific to the storage controlmodule pair 28, assigned to the corresponding storage control modulepair 28, is stored in the pair number field 30A.

The active field 30B is divided into a node number field 30BA and astorage control module field 30BB. An identification number (nodenumber) of the storage node 3 in which the active storage control module21 of two storage control modules 21 forming the corresponding storagecontrol module pair 28 is disposed is stored in the node number field30BA, and an identification number (storage control module number) ofthe active storage control module 21 is stored in the storage controlmodule field 30BB.

Similarly, the passive field 30C is divided into a node number field30CA and a storage control module number field 30CB. An identificationnumber (node number) of the storage node 3 in which the passive storagecontrol module 21 of two storage control modules 21 forming thecorresponding storage control module pair 28 is disposed is stored inthe node number field 30CA, and a storage control module number of thepassive storage control module 21 is stored in the storage controlmodule field 30CB.

Therefore, in a case of the example illustrated in FIG. 5 , it isillustrated that the storage control module pair 28 assigned with thepair number of “1” is formed by the active storage control module 21with the storage control module number of “0” disposed in the storagenode 3 with the node number of “0” and the passive storage controlmodule 21 with the storage control module number of “1” disposed in thestorage node 3 with the node number of “1”.

On the other hand, the frontend table volume table 31 is a table used tomanage a correspondence relationship between the host volume HVOL andthe internal volume IVOL. As illustrated in FIG. 6 , the frontend tablevolume table 31 is configured to include a host volume ID field 31A, aUUID field 31B, a first node specifying information field 31C, a secondnode specifying information field 31D, an active side node specifyinginformation field 31E, a storage control module number field 31F, avirtual port number field 31G, and an internal volume number field 31H.In the frontend table volume table 31, one row corresponds to one hostvolume HVOL, and all host volumes HVOL in the cluster 7 are registered.

A volume number specific to the host volume HVOL, assigned to thecorresponding host volume HVOL, is stored in the volume number field31A. The volume number is an identification number (volume number) ofthe host volume HVOL recognized by the compute node 2.

A universally unique identifier (UUID) specific to the host volume HVOL,assigned to the corresponding host volume HVOL in the cluster 7, isstored in the UUID field 31B, and a volume number of the internal volumeIVOL correlated with the corresponding host volume HVOL is stored in theinternal volume number field 31H.

Information (hereinafter, referred to as storage node specifyinginformation) for specifying the storage node 3 in which the activestorage control module 21 of the storage control module pair 28correlated with the corresponding internal volume IVOL is disposed isstored in the first node specifying information field 31C, and storagenode specifying information of the storage node 3 in which the passivestorage control module 21 of the storage control module pair 28 isdisposed is stored in the second node specifying information field 31D.In the present embodiment, as the storage node specifying information,an Internet protocol (IP) address of the corresponding storage node 3 onthe storage service network 5 is used.

Of the two storage nodes 3, storage node specifying information of thestorage node 3 in which the active storage control module 21 is disposedis stored in the active side node specifying information field 31E. Astorage control module number of the active storage control module 21 isstored in the storage control module number field 31F, and, amongvirtual ports VPT defined in the active storage control module 21, anidentification number (port number) of the virtual port VPT connected tothe corresponding host volume HVOL and the corresponding internal volumeIVOL is stored in the virtual port number field 31G.

Therefore, in a case of the example illustrated in FIG. 6 , it isillustrated that the internal volume IVOL with the volume number of “1”is defined on the pool PL allocated to the storage control module pair28 formed by the active storage control module 21 with the storagecontrol module number of “1” disposed in the storage node 3 with thenode specifying information of “sn1” and the passive storage controlmodule 21 disposed in the storage node 3 with the node specifyinginformation of “sn2”, and the internal volume IVOL is correlated withthe host volume HVOL with the volume number of “1” via the virtual portVPT with the port number of “Cl1-a” defined in the active storagecontrol module 21. FIG. 6 also illustrates that a UUID of the hostvolume HVOL in the cluster 7 is “Xxxxxxxxxxx”.

On the other hand, the mapping table 32 is a table used to manage acorrespondence relationship between the global pool volume GVOL and theinternal volume IVOL. As illustrated in FIG. 7 , the mapping table 32 isconfigured to include a global pool volume number field 32A, a UUIDfield 32B, an internal volume number field 32C, a node number field 32D,and a storage control module number field 32E. In the mapping table 32,one row corresponds to one global pool volume GVOL, and all global poolvolumes GVOL in the cluster 7 are registered.

A volume number of the corresponding global pool volume GVOL is storedin the global pool volume number field 32A, and a UUID of the globalpool volume GVOL in the cluster 7 is stored in the UUID field 32B.

A volume number of the internal volume IVOL, assigned to the internalvolume IVOL correlated with the global pool volume GVOL, is stored inthe internal volume number field 32C. A node number of the storage node3 (typically, the storage node 3 in which the corresponding activestorage control module 21 is disposed) in which the internal volume IVOLis present is stored in the node number field 32D.

Of two storage control modules 21 forming the storage control modulepair 28 (the storage control module pair 28 in which the internal volumeIVOL is defined on the allocated pool PL) correlated with the internalvolume IVOL, a storage control module number of the active storagecontrol module 21 is stored in the storage control module number field32E.

Therefore, in a case of the example illustrated in FIG. 7 , it isillustrated that the global pool volume GVOL with the volume number of“1” is assigned with the UUID of “Xxxxxxxxxxxx” in the cluster 7, and iscorrelated with the internal volume IVOL with the volume number of “1”defined in the storage node 3 with the node number of “2” in which theactive storage control module 21 with the storage control module numberof “1” is disposed.

The frontend target table 33 is a table used to manage a correspondencerelationship between the target TG (FIG. 4 ) set for the physical portPPT (FIG. 4 ) of the storage node 3 on a one-to-one basis, and the hostvolume HVOL. As illustrated in FIG. 8 , the frontend target table 33 isconfigured to include a target number field 33A, a target name field33B, a UUID field 33C, a target IP field 33D, a host volume number listfield 33E, and an initiator name field 33F. In the frontend target table33, one row corresponds to one target TG, and all targets TG defined inthe cluster 7 are registered.

An identification number (target number) specific to the target TG,assigned to the corresponding target TG, is stored in the target numberfield 33A, and a name (target name) assigned to the corresponding targetTG is stored in the target name field 33B. The target name is a nameassigned by a user or the management node 4.

A UUID of the target TG in the cluster 7, assigned to the correspondingtarget TG, is stored in the UUID field 33C. An IP address on the storageservice network 5 of the physical port PPT in which the target TG is setis stored in the target IP field 33D.

Volume numbers of all host volumes HVOL correlated with thecorresponding target TG are stored in the host volume number list field33E, and a name (initiator name) of the compute node 2 which can loginto the corresponding target TG is stored in the initiator name field33F.

Therefore, in a case of the example illustrated in FIG. 8 , it isillustrated that the target TG assigned with the target number of “1”and having the target name of “AAAA” is assigned with the UUID of“Xxxxxxxxxxxx” in the cluster 7; the IP address on the storage servicenetwork 5 of the physical port PPT in which the target TG is set is“xx.xx.xx.xx”; the target TG is correlated with a plurality of hostvolumes HVOL assigned with volume numbers of “1”, “2”, . . . and “N”;and the compute node 2 with the initiator name of “lqn.xxxx.xxx” is setto be able to login to the target TG.

The storage control module configuration information table 34 is a tableused to manage a correspondence relationship between the virtual portVPT and the internal volume IVOL, and is configured to include a virtualport number field 34A and an internal volume number field 34B asillustrated in FIG. 9 . The storage control module configurationinformation table 34 is created for each storage control module 21, andis managed by the corresponding storage control module 21.

A port number of the virtual port VPT defined in the correspondingstorage control module 21 is stored in the virtual port number field34A, and a volume number of the internal volume IVOL connected to thevirtual port VPT is stored in the internal volume number field 34B.

Therefore, in a case of the example illustrated in FIG. 9 , the virtualport VPT of “Cl1-a” of the corresponding storage control module 21 isconnected to the internal volume IVOL with the volume number of “1”.

The global pool volume table 35 is a table used to manage the globalpool volume GVOL defined in the cluster 7, and is configured to includea global pool volume number field 35A, a target number field 35B, and ahost volume number field 35C as illustrated in FIG. 10 . In the globalpool volume table 35, one row corresponds to one global pool volumeGVOL, and all global pool volumes GVOL defined in the cluster 7 areregistered.

An identification number (volume number) specific to the global poolvolume GVOL, assigned to the corresponding global pool volume GVOL, isstored in the global pool volume number field 35A, and volume numbers ofall host volumes HVOL correlated with the corresponding global poolvolume GVOL are stored in the host volume number field 35C. A targetnumber of the target TG correlated with the corresponding host volumeHVOL is stored in the target number field 35B.

Therefore, in a case of FIG. 10 , it is illustrated that the globaltarget volume GVOL assigned with the volume number of “1” is correlatedwith at least the host volume HVOL assigned with the volume number of“1”, and the host volume HVOL is correlated with the target TG assignedwith the target number of “1” and the target TG assigned with the targetnumber of “2” (refer to FIG. 4 ).

FIG. 11 illustrates a correspondence relationship of information amongthe frontend table volume table 31, the mapping table 32, the frontendtarget table 33, the storage control module configuration informationtable 34, and the global pool volume 35.

As illustrated in FIG. 11 , the virtual port number and the volumenumber respectively stored in the virtual port number field 31G (FIG. 6) and the internal volume number field 31H (FIG. 6 ) of the frontendtable volume table 31 respectively correspond to the virtual port numberand the volume number respectively stored in the virtual port numberfield 34A (FIG. 9 ) and the internal volume number field 34B (FIG. 9 )of the storage control module configuration information management table34 managed by the storage control module 21 having the virtual port VPT(FIG. 4 ) assigned with the virtual port number.

Therefore, a correspondence relationship between the rows can berecognized with a combination of the port number of the virtual port VPTand the volume number of the internal volume IVOL correlated with thevirtual port VPT as a key between the frontend table volume table 31 andthe storage control module configuration information management table34.

The volume number stored in the global pool volume number field 32A(FIG. 7 ) of the mapping table 32 corresponds to the volume numberstored in the global pool volume number field 35A of the global poolvolume table 35. Therefore, a correspondence relationship between therows can be recognized with the volume number of the global pool volumeGVOL as a key between the mapping table 32 and the global pool volumetable 35.

The volume number stored in the internal volume number field 32C (FIG. 7) of the mapping table 32 corresponds to the volume number stored in theinternal volume number field 34B (FIG. 9 ) of the storage control moduleconfiguration information management table 34 managed by the activestorage control module 21 providing the internal volume IVOL (FIG. 4 )with the internal volume number. Therefore, a correspondencerelationship between the rows can be recognized with the volume numberof the internal volume IVOL as a key between the mapping table 32 andthe storage control module configuration information management table34.

The target number stored in the target number field 35B (FIG. 10 ) ofthe global pool volume table 35 corresponds to the target number storedin the target number field 33A of the frontend target table 33 (FIG. 8). Therefore, a correspondence relationship between the rows can berecognized with the target number as a key between the global poolvolume table 35 and the frontend target table 33.

(3) Flow of Internal Volume Creation

Next, with reference to FIG. 12 , a description will be made of a flowof a series of processes in which the internal volume IVOL described inFIG. 4 is created in the cluster 7 so as to be correlated with the hostvolume HVOL, and various settings regarding the internal volume IVOL areperformed.

In the information processing system 1, in a case where a new hostvolume HVOL provided to the compute node 2 is created, the systemmanager operates the management node 4 to transmit a creation requestfor the global pool volume GVOL (hereinafter, referred to as a globalpool volume creation request) correlated with the host volume HVOL to becreated at that time, to the storage node 3 in which the master clustercontrol module 25 is disposed (S1).

First, the master cluster control module 25 having received the globalpool volume creation request analyzes the received command (global poolvolume creation request) (S2), and selects the storage control modulepair 28 (FIG. 3 ) which is the optimum to be correlated with the globalpool volume GVOL to be created at that time in a case where the commandis recognized as the global pool volume creation request (S3). Forexample, the master cluster control module 25 selects the storagecontrol module pair 28 including the active storage control module 21disposed in the storage node 3 with the lowest load in step S3.

The master cluster control module 25 transmits an instruction forcreating the global pool volume GVOL (hereinafter, referred to as aglobal pool volume creation instruction) and an instruction for creatingthe internal volume IVOL (hereinafter, referred to as an internal volumecreation instruction) to the storage node 3 in which the active storagecontrol module 21 is disposed of the storage control modules 21 formingthe storage control module pair 28 selected in step S3 via the backendnetwork 6 (S4A and S4B).

Thus, the frontend module 20 of the storage node 3 having received theglobal pool volume creation instruction creates the global pool volumeGVOL in its own node (S5A). The active storage control module 21 of thestorage node 3 creates the internal volume IVOL in its own node incorrelation with the pool PL (FIG. 4 ) allocated to the storage controlmodule pair 28 formed by the storage control module 21 and the globalpool volume GVOL created in step S5A in response to the internal volumecreation instruction (S5B).

The global pool volume GVOL and the internal volume IVOL are virtuallogical volumes without entities, and thus creation of the global poolvolume GVOL or the internal volume IVOL is performed by registeringinformation regarding the volumes in the global pool volume table 35(FIG. 10 ) or the corresponding storage control module configurationinformation table 34 (FIG. 9 ).

Actually, the frontend module 20 adds a new row to the global poolvolume table 35 (FIG. 10 ) managed thereby, and stores a volume numberassigned to the global pool volume GVOL in the global pool volume numberfield 35A (FIG. 10 ) of the row.

Next, the frontend module 20 notifies the master cluster control module25 of the volume number of the global pool volume GVOL created asmentioned above and a volume number of the internal volume IVOLcorrelated with the global pool volume GVOL via the backend network 6(S6A).

The active storage control module 21 adds a new row to the storagecontrol module configuration information table 34 (FIG. 9 ) managedthereby, stores a volume number of the internal volume IVOL to becreated at that time in the internal volume number field 34B (FIG. 9 )of the row, and also stores a port number of the virtual port VPT (FIG.4 ) of the storage control module 21 of its own node correlated with theinternal volume IVOL in the virtual port number field 34A (FIG. 9 ) ofthe row.

Next, the active storage control module 21 sends a completionnotification including the volume number of the internal volume IVOLcreated as mentioned above and the port number of the virtual port VPTcorrelated with the internal volume IVOL to the master cluster controlmodule 25 via the backend network 6 (S6B).

On the other hand, the master cluster control module 25 having receivedthe completion notification instructs the frontend module 20 of its ownnode to register the global pool volume GVOL or the internal volume IVOLin the frontend table volume table 31 (FIG. 6 ), the mapping table 32(FIG. 7 ), and the global pool volume table 35 (FIG. 10 ) of its ownnode. Thus, the frontend module 20 having received the instructionregisters the global pool volume GVOL or the internal volume IVOL in thefrontend table volume table 31, the mapping table 32, and the globalpool volume table 35 (FIG. 10 ) stored in the memory 11 (FIG. 2 ) of itsown node (S7).

Specifically, the frontend module 20 adds a new row to the frontendtable volume table 31 stored in the memory 11 (FIG. 2 ) of its own node,and stores the storage node specifying information of the storage node 3in which one storage control module 21 forming the storage controlmodule pair 28 selected in step S3 is disposed, in the first nodespecifying information field 31C (FIG. 6 ) of the row. The frontendmodule 20 stores the storage node specifying information of the storagenode 3 in which the other storage control module 21 forming the storagecontrol module pair 28 selected in step S3 is disposed, in the secondnode specifying information field 31D (FIG. 6 ) of the row.

The frontend module 20 stores the storage node specifying information ofthe storage node 3 in which the active storage control module 21 of thetwo storage control modules 21 forming the storage control module pair28 is disposed, in the active side node specifying information field 31E(FIG. 6 ) of the row, and also stores the storage control module numberof the active storage control module 21 in the storage control modulenumber field 31F (FIG. 6 ) of the row.

The frontend module 20 stores the port number of the virtual port VPTincluded in the completion notification transmitted from thecorresponding storage control module 21, received in step S7, in thevirtual port number field 31G (FIG. 6 ) of the row, and also stores thevolume number of the internal volume included in the completionnotification in the internal volume number field 31H (FIG. 6 ) of therow.

Similarly, the frontend module 20 adds a new row to the mapping table 32(FIG. 7 ), stores the volume number and the UUID of the global poolvolume GVOL created at that time in the global pool volume number field32A (FIG. 7 ) and the UUID field 32B (FIG. 7 ) of the row, respectively,and also stores the volume number of the internal volume IVOL correlatedwith the global pool volume GVOL in the internal volume number field 32C(FIG. 7 ) of the row.

The frontend module 20 stores the node number of the storage node 3 inwhich the active storage control module 21 of the storage control modulepair 28 selected in step S3 is disposed in the node number field 32D(FIG. 7 ) of the row, and also stores the storage control module numberof the active storage control module 21 in the storage control modulenumber field 32E (FIG. 7 ) of the row.

The frontend module 20 adds a new row to the global pool volume table 35(FIG. 10 ), and stores the volume number of the global pool volume GVOLcreated at that time in the global pool volume number field 35A (FIG. 10) of the row.

In a case where the frontend module 20 of its own node has registeredthe global pool volume GVOL or the internal volume IVOL in the frontendtable volume table 31, the mapping table 32, and the global pool volumetable 35 of its own node in the above-described way, the master clustercontrol module 25 transmits respective differences in the frontend tablevolume table 31, the mapping table 32, and the global pool volume table35 before and after being updated, to the respective storage nodes 3other than its own node in the cluster 7 as difference data via thebackend network 6 (S8).

Thus, the frontend module 20 of each storage node 3 having received thedifference data updates the frontend table volume table 31, the mappingtable 32, and the global pool volume table 35 of its own node on thebasis of the difference data in the same manner as in the frontend tablevolume table 31, the mapping table 32, and the global pool volume table35 of the storage node 3 in which the master cluster control module 25is disposed (S9). In the above-described way, the frontend table volumetables 31, the mapping tables 32, and the global pool volume tables 35of the respective storage nodes 3 are updated in synchronization witheach other, and thus the content of the frontend table volume table 31,the mapping table 32, and the global pool volume table 35 is maintainedin the same state among the respective storage nodes 3 in the cluster 7at all times.

In a case where the frontend table volume table 31, the mapping table32, and the global pool volume table 35 of its own node have beenupdated in the above-described way, the frontend module 20 transmits anupdate completion notification to the master cluster control module 25via the backend network 6 (S10).

In a case where the completion notifications in step S10 are receivedfrom the frontend modules 20 of all storage nodes 3 other than its ownnode in the cluster 7, the master cluster control module 25 transmits acompletion notification indicating that the requested global pool volumeGVOL has been created, to the management node 4 (S11).

On the other hand, in a case where the completion notification in stepS11 is transmitted from the master cluster control module 25, themanagement node 4 transmits a request (hereinafter, referred to as atarget creation request) for creating the target TG (FIG. 4 ) correlatedwith the host volume HVOL to be created at that time, to the mastercluster control module 25 via the storage service network 5 (S12). Thetarget creation request includes a target name of the target TG to becreated at that time, a volume number of the host volume HVOL correlatedwith the target TG, and an IP address of the target TG.

In a case where the target creation request is received, the mastercluster control module 25 instructs the frontend module 20 of its ownnode to create the requested targets TG in two storage nodes 3 in whichthe respective storage control modules 21 forming the storage controlmodule pair 28 selected in step S3 are disposed (S13). However, thetargets TG are virtual and thus do not have entities, and thus creationof the targets TG is performed by registering new information regardingthe targets TG in the frontend target table 33 (FIG. 8 ).

Actually, the frontend module 20 having received the instruction fromthe master cluster control module 25 adds two new rows to the frontendtarget table 33 (FIG. 8 ) stored in the memory 11 of its own node, andstores information corresponding to target names of the new targets TG,network IPs, and volume numbers of the host volumes HVOL designated inthe target creation request given from the management node 4 in stepS12, in the target name field 33B (FIG. 8 ), the target IP field 33D(FIG. 8 ), and the host volume number field 33E (FIG. 8 ) of the rows,respectively. The frontend module 20 stores unique UUIDs in the cluster7, assigned to the corresponding targets TG, in the UUID field 33C (FIG.8 ) of the rows.

Next, the master cluster control module 25 instructs the frontend module20 of its own node to map the global pool volume GVOL created in stepS5A, the internal volume IVOL created in step S5B, and the host volumeHVOL to be created at that time onto each other (S14).

Thus, the frontend module 20 having received the instruction stores avolume number of the host volume HVOL to be created at that timedesignated in the target creation request, in the volume number field31A (FIG. 6 ) of the new row added to the frontend table volume table 31(FIG. 6 ) of its own node in step S7. The frontend module 20 assigns aunique UUID in the cluster 7 to the host volume HVOL, and stores theassigned UUID in the UUID field 31B (FIG. 6 ) of the row.

The frontend module 20 stores the target number of each target TGcreated at that time designated in the target creation request in thetarget number field 35B of the new row added to the global pool volumetable 35 (FIG. 10 ) of its own node in step S7 in the same manner asdescribed above, and also stores a volume number of the host volume HVOLto be created at that time in each host volume number field 35C of therow.

In a case where creation of the requested target TG, and mapping amongthe global pool volume GVOL created in step S5A, the internal volumeIVOL created in step S5B, and the host volume HVOL to be created at thattime are completed in the above-described way, the master clustercontrol module 25 transmits a difference in the frontend target table 33updated in step S13 before and after being updated, and respectivedifferences in the frontend table volume table 31 and the global poolvolume table 35 updated in step S14 before and after being updated, tothe respective storage nodes 3 other than its own node in the cluster 7as difference data via the backend network 6 (S15).

Thus, the frontend module 20 of each storage node 3 having received thedifference data updates the frontend target table 33, the frontend tablevolume table 31, and the global pool volume table 35 of its own node onthe basis of the difference data in the same manner as in the frontendtarget table 33, the frontend table volume table 31, and the global poolvolume table 35 of the storage node 3 in which the master clustercontrol module 25 is disposed (S16).

In a case where the frontend target table 33, the frontend table volumetable 31, and the global pool volume table 35 of its own node have beenupdated in the above-described way, the frontend module 20 transmits anupdate completion notification to the master cluster control module 25via the backend network 6 (S17).

In a case where the completion notifications in step S17 are receivedfrom the frontend modules 20 of all storage nodes 3 other than its ownnode in the cluster 7, the master cluster control module 25 transmits acompletion notification indicating that the requested target TG has beencreated, to the management node 4 (S18).

On the other hand, in a case where the completion notification in stepS18 is transmitted from the master cluster control module 25, themanagement node 4 transmits an initiator registration request forcorrelating the target TG created through the processes in steps S12 toS18 with the compute node 2 (initiator) which is permitted to access thehost volume HVOL correlated with the target TG, to the master clustercontrol module 25 (S19). The initiator registration request includes anode name of the compute node 2 and the target name of the target TG.

In a case where the initiator registration request is received, themaster cluster control module 25 gives an instruction to the frontendmodule 20 of its own node such that the compute node 2 designated in theinitiator registration request is registered as an initiator which canaccess the target TG created in step S13. Thus, the frontend module 20having received the instruction registers the compute node 2 as aninitiator which can access the target TG (S20). Specifically, thefrontend module 20 stores the node name of the compute node 2 designatedin the initiator registration request in the initiator name field 33F(FIG. 8 ) of the frontend target table 33 stored in the memory 11 (FIG.2 ) of its own node.

In a case where the compute node 2 has been registered as an initiatorwhich can access the target TG in the above-described way, the mastercluster module 25 transmits a difference in the frontend target table 33before and after being updated to the respective storage nodes 3 otherthan its own node in the cluster 7 as difference data via the backendnetwork 6 (S21).

Thus, the frontend module 20 of each storage node 3 having received thedifference data updates the frontend target table 33 of its own node onthe basis of the difference data in the same manner as in the frontendtarget table 33 of the storage node 3 in which the master clustercontrol module 25 is disposed (S22).

In a case where the frontend target table 33 of its own node has beenupdated in the above-described way, the frontend module 20 transmits anupdate completion notification to the master cluster control module 25via the backend network 6 (S23).

In a case where the completion notifications in step S23 are receivedfrom the frontend modules 20 of all storage nodes 3 other than its ownnode in the cluster 7, the master cluster control module 25 transmits acompletion notification indicating that the requested initiator has beenregistered, to the management node 4 (S24). As mentioned above, theseries of processes is completed.

(4) Flow of Processes During Occurrence of Failure in Storage Node orAddition of Storage Node

Next, a description will be made of a flow of processes in theinformation processing system 1 in a case where a failure occurs in anyone of the storage nodes 3 forming the cluster 7, or the storage node 3is added to the cluster 7.

(4-1) Flow of Processes During Occurrence of Failure in Storage Node

FIG. 13 illustrates a flow of a series of processes performed in thecluster 7 in a case where a failure occurs in any one of the storagenodes 3 forming the cluster 7.

In a case of the present embodiment, the master cluster control module25 performs periodic health check on each storage node 3. In a casewhere it is detected that a failure occurs in any storage node 3 duringthe health check, the master cluster control module 25 specifies theother storage control module (passive storage control module) 21 formingthe same storage control module pair 28 along with the active storagecontrol module 21 disposed in the storage node (hereinafter, referred toas a failure storage node) 3 in which the failure occurs (S30).

Specifically, the master cluster control module 25 refers to the storagecontrol module pair table 30 (FIG. 5 ), specifies a row of which a nodenumber of the failure storage node 3 is stored in the node number field30BA (FIG. 5 ) of the active field 30B (FIG. 5 ) among the respectiverows of the storage control module pair table 30, and acquires a storagecontrol module number stored in the storage control module number field30CB (FIG. 5 ) of the passive field 30C (FIG. 5 ) and a node numberstored in the node number field 30CA (FIG. 5 ) of the passive field 30Cof the row.

Next, the master cluster control module 25 switches a state of thestorage control module 21 specified in step S30 to an active mode (S31).Specifically, the master cluster control module 25 stores respectivenumbers corresponding to the node number and the storage control modulenumber acquired in step S30 in the node number field 30BA (FIG. 5 ) andthe storage control module number field 30BB (FIG. 5 ) of the activefield 30B (FIG. 5 ) of the row specified in step S30 among the rows ofthe storage control module pair table 30. The master cluster controlmodule 25 transmits difference data regarding a difference in thestorage control module pair table 30 before and after being updated,updated in the above-described way, to the respective storage nodes 3other than its own node in the cluster 7, so as to update the storagecontrol module pair tables 30 of the storage nodes 3 in the same manner.

The master cluster control module 25 activates the storage controlmodule 21 assigned with the storage control module number acquired inthe above-described way of the storage node 3 assigned with the nodenumber acquired in step S30 (S32), and causes the storage control module21 to perform a necessary process during the failure (S33).

On the other hand, the master cluster control module 25 also transmitsthe same instruction for performing a process during the failure as theinstruction for performing a process during the failure in step S31 tothe frontend module 20 installed in the storage node 3 with the nodenumber specified in step S30 via the backend network 6 (S34).

The frontend module 20 having received the instruction for performing aprocess during the failure performs a process during the failure forswitching a correspondence destination of the internal volume IVOLcorrelated with the storage control module 21 switched to the activemode in step S32 to the storage control module 21 switched to the activemode in step S32 (S35).

Specifically, first, the frontend module 20 specifies a row of which astorage control module number of the active storage control module 21forming the storage control module pair 28 along with the storagecontrol module 21 until then is stored in the storage control modulenumber field 31F (FIG. 6 ) of the frontend table volume table 31 of itsown node.

The frontend module 20 updates node specifying information stored in theactive side node specifying information field 31E (FIG. 6 ) of the rowto node specifying information of its own node, and updates the storagecontrol module number stored in the storage control module number field31F of the row to the storage control module number of the storagecontrol module 21 switched to the active mode in step S31. The frontendmodule 20 updates a port number stored in the virtual port number field31G (FIG. 6 ) of the row to a port number of the virtual port VPT whichis the virtual port VPT (FIG. 4 ) of the storage control module 21switched to the active mode in step S31 and is correlated with thecorresponding host volume HVOL.

First, the frontend module 20 specifies a row of which the storagecontrol module number of the active storage control module 21 formingthe storage control module pair 28 along with the storage control module21 of its own node until then is stored in the storage control modulenumber field 32E (FIG. 7 ) of the mapping table 32 (FIG. 7 ) of its ownnode. The frontend module 20 rewrites a node number stored in the nodenumber field 32D (FIG. 7 ) of the row into the node number of its ownnode. The frontend module 20 rewrites a storage control module numberstored in the storage control module number field 32E of the row intothe storage control module number of the storage control module 21switched to the active mode in step S31.

The frontend module 20 specifies a row of which a volume number of thehost volume HVOL correlated with the corresponding internal volume IVOLdefined in the failure storage node 3 is stored in the host volumenumber list field 33E of the frontend target table 33 (FIG. 8 ). Thefrontend module 20 rewrites an IP address stored in the target ID field33D of the row into an IP address of the physical port PPT which is thephysical port PPT (FIG. 4 ) of its own node and is correlated with thehost volume HVOL.

The master cluster control module 25 transmits difference data regardingdifferences in the frontend table volume table 31, the mapping table 32,and the frontend target table 33 before and after being updated, updatedin the above-described way, to the frontend modules 20 of the respectivestorage nodes 3 other than its own node in the cluster 7, so as toupdate the frontend table volume tables 31, the mapping tables 32, andthe frontend target tables 33 of the storage nodes 3 in the same manner.

Although not illustrated in FIG. 13 , the master cluster control module25 selects the storage control module 21 which has to form the newstorage control module pair 28 along with the storage control module 21switched to the active mode in step S32, instead of the active storagecontrol module 21 disposed in the failure storage node 3, in addition tothe processes in steps S31 and S32.

Such a storage control module 21 is selected from among the storagecontrol modules 21 disposed in the storage nodes 3 other than thestorage node 3 in which the storage control module 21 switched to theactive mode in step S32 is disposed, the storage control modules 21 (thestorage control modules 21 not forming the storage control module pairs28 along with any storage control module 21) being disposed in anystorage nodes 3 other than the failure storage node 3 in the cluster 7and not being used at that time.

The master cluster control module 25 updates the storage control modulepair table 30 (FIG. 5 ) and the frontend table volume table 31 (FIG. 6 )in order to set the storage control module 21 selected in theabove-described way and the storage control module 21 switched to theactive mode in step S32 as a new storage control module pair 28.

Specifically, the master cluster control module 25 specifies a row ofwhich the node number and the storage control module number acquired instep S30 are stored in the node number field 30BA (FIG. 5 ) and thestorage control module number field 30BB (FIG. 5 ) of the active field30B (FIG. 5 ) of the storage control module pair table 30, rewrites thestorage control module number stored in the storage control modulenumber field 30CB (FIG. 5 ) of the passive field 30C (FIG. 5 ) of therow into a storage control module number of the storage control module21 selected in the above-described way, and also rewrites the nodenumber stored in the node number field 30CA (FIG. 5 ) of the passivefield 30C into a node number of the storage node 3 in which the storagecontrol module 21 is disposed.

The master cluster control module 25 rewrites the node number of thefailure storage node 3 stored in either of the first and second nodespecifying information fields 31C and 31D of the corresponding row inthe frontend table volume table 31 into the node number of the storagenode 3 in which the storage control module 21 selected in theabove-described way is disposed via the frontend module 20 of its ownnode.

The master cluster control module 25 transmits difference data regardingdifferences in the storage control module pair table 30 and the frontendtable volume table 31 before and after being updated, updated in theabove-described way, to the respective storage nodes 3 other than itsown node in the cluster 7, so as to update the storage control modulepair tables 30 and the frontend table volume tables 31 of the storagenodes 3 in the same manner.

(4-2) Flow of Processes During Addition of Storage Node

FIG. 14 illustrates a flow of a series of processes performed in thecluster 7 in a case where the storage node 3 is added to the cluster 7.

In a case where the storage node 3 is added to the cluster 7, the systemmanager notifies the master cluster control module 25 of this fact viathe management node 4. The master cluster control module 25 havingreceived the notification selects the storage control module(hereinafter, referred to as a movement target storage control module)21 to be moved to the added storage node 3 in order to distribute loadsto the storage nodes 3 (S40).

For example, the master cluster control module 25 selects the activestorage control module 21 disposed in the storage node 3 having thehighest load as the movement target storage control module 21 from amongthe storage control modules 21 in the cluster 7.

Next, the master cluster control module 25 performs processes forreplacing any one of storage control modules 21 disposed in the addedstorage node 3 and not used at that time with the movement targetstorage control module 21 selected in step S40 (S41 to S45).

Specifically, first, the master cluster control module 25 activates thestorage control module (hereinafter, referred to as a selected storagecontrol module) 21 of the added storage node 3 selected in step S40(S41), and causes the selected storage control module 21 to perform apredetermined process during addition for taking over a process which isbeing performed until then to the movement target storage control module21 (S42).

The master cluster control module 25 causes the movement target storagecontrol module 21 to perform a predetermined process during addition fortaking over a process which is being performed until then by themovement target storage control module 21 to the selected storagecontrol module 21 (S41 and S42). The process during addition includes aprocess of transmitting data of each of the storage control module pairtable 30 (FIG. 5 ), the frontend table volume table 31 (FIG. 6 ), themapping table 32 (FIG. 7 ), the frontend target table 33 (FIG. 8 ), andthe global pool volume table 35 (FIG. 10 ) to the frontend module 20 ofthe added storage node 3.

Next, the master cluster control module 25 instructs the frontend module20 of its own node to switch a correspondence destination of theinternal volume IVOL correlated with the movement target storage controlmodule 21 to the selected storage control module 21 and also to set anenvironment of the selected storage control module 21 in the addedstorage node 3 to be the same as an environment of the movement targetstorage control module 21 in the storage node 3 in which the movementtarget storage control module 21 is disposed (S43).

Thus, the frontend module 20 having received the instruction updates thestorage control module pair table 30 (FIG. 5 ), the frontend tablevolume table 31 (FIG. 6 ), the mapping table 32 (FIG. 7 ), the frontendtarget table 33 (FIG. 8 ), and the global pool volume table 35 (FIG. 10) stored in the memory 11 (FIG. 2 ) of its own node in response to theinstruction as necessary (S44).

Specifically, first, the frontend module 20 specifies a row of which astorage control module number of the movement target storage controlmodule 21 is stored in the storage control module number field 30BB(FIG. 5 ) of the active field 30B (FIG. 5 ) of the storage controlmodule pair table 30. The frontend module 20 rewrites a node numberstored in the node number field 30BA (FIG. 5 ) of the active field 30Bof the row into a node number of the added storage node 3, and alsorewrites the storage control module number stored in the storage controlmodule number field 30BB (FIG. 5 ) of the active field 30B into astorage control module number of the selected storage control module 21.

The frontend module 20 first specifies a row of which the storagecontrol module number of the movement target storage control module 21is stored in the storage control module number field 31F (FIG. 6 ) ofthe frontend table volume table 31.

The frontend module 20 rewrites node specifying information of thestorage node 3 in which the movement target storage control module 21 isdisposed, stored in either of the first and second node specifyinginformation fields 31C and 31D (FIG. 6 ), and node specifyinginformation of the storage node 3 stored in the active side nodespecifying information field 31E (FIG. 6 ), into node specifyinginformation of the added storage node 3.

The frontend module 20 rewrites the storage control module number storedin the storage control module number field 31F of the row into a storagecontrol module number of the selected storage control module 21. Thefrontend module 20 rewrites a virtual port number stored in the virtualport number field 31G (FIG. 6 ) of the row into a virtual port number ofthe virtual port VPT (FIG. 4 ) which is defined in the selected storagecontrol module 21 so as to correspond to the corresponding host volumeHVOL correlated until then by the movement target storage control module21.

First, the frontend module 20 specifies a row of which the storagecontrol module number of the movement target storage control module 21is stored in the storage control module number field 32E (FIG. 7 ) ofthe mapping table 32. The frontend module 20 rewrites the storagecontrol module number stored in the storage control module number field32E of the row into the selected storage control module number. Thefrontend module 20 rewrites a node number stored in the node numberfield 32D (FIG. 7 ) of the row into the node number of the added storagenode 3.

First, the frontend module 20 specifies a row of which a volume numberof the corresponding host volume HVOL is stored in the host volumenumber list field 33E (FIG. 8 ) of the frontend target table 33. Thevolume number may be acquired as, for example, a volume number stored inthe host volume number field 31A of the row in the above-described wayin the frontend table volume table 31.

The frontend module 20 rewrites an IP address stored in the target IPfield of the row into an IP address on the storage service network 5(FIG. 1 ) of the physical port PPT (FIG. 4 ) correlated with thecorresponding host volume HVOL in the added storage node 3.

If the storage control module pair table 30, the frontend table volumetable 31, the mapping table 32, and the frontend target table 33 havebeen updated as mentioned above, the master cluster control module 25transmits difference data regarding differences in the storage controlmodule pair table 30, the frontend table volume table 31, the mappingtable 32, and the frontend target table 33 before and after beingupdated, updated in the above-described way, to the respective storagenodes 3 other than its own node in the cluster 7, so as to update thestorage control module pair tables 30, the frontend table volume tables31, the mapping tables 32, and the frontend target tables 33 in the samemanner.

The master cluster control module 25 accesses the selected storagecontrol module 21, and stores the same values as values stored in thevirtual port number field 31G (FIG. 6 ) and the internal volume numberfield 31H (FIG. 6 ) of the frontend table volume table 31 of its ownnode, in the virtual port number field 34A (FIG. 9 ) and the internalvolume number field 34B (FIG. 9 ) of the storage control moduleconfiguration information table 34 held in the selected storage controlmodule 21, respectively.

Through the above-described processes, an environment of the selectedstorage control module 21 in the added storage node 3 is set to be thesame as an environment of the movement target storage control module 21in the storage node 3 in which the movement target storage controlmodule 21 is disposed.

On the other hand, next, the compute node 2 performs a path addingprocess of setting a path from its own node to the corresponding targetTG defined in the added storage node 3 in the adding process in stepS44, in response to an instruction given from the management node 4 onthe basis of an input operation of the system manager (S46). The computenode 2 transmits a login request for wanting to login to the target TGto the frontend module 20 of the added storage node 3 via the path setin the above-described way (S47).

In a case where the login request is received, the frontend module 20 ofthe added storage node 3 performs a login process corresponding to thelogin request (S48), and transmits a process result to the compute node2 which is a transmission source of the login request (S49).

(5) Flow of Write Processes and Read Processes in Present InformationProcessing System (5-1) Flow of Write Processes

Next, a description will be made of a flow of write processes in theinformation processing system 1. FIG. 15 illustrates a flow of writeprocesses performed in the cluster 7 in a case where a write request isgiven to any one of storage nodes 3 forming the cluster 7 from thecompute node 2. In the following description, the storage node 3 havingreceived a write request in the cluster 7 will be referred to as a“write request reception node” as appropriate.

In the write request, as described above, a volume number of the poolvolume GVOL which is a write destination, a leading address of a storageregion which is a write destination in the pool volume GVOL, and a datalength of write target data (hereinafter, referred to as write data) aredesignated.

In a case where the write request is received (S50), the firstcommunication device 13 of the “write request reception node” transmitsthe received write request to the frontend module 20 of its own node(S51). The frontend module 20 secures a buffer region with a necessarycapacity on the memory 11 (FIG. 2 ) on the basis of the transmittedwrite request (S52), and transmits a completion notification indicatingthat the buffer region is secured, to the compute node 2 which is atransmission source of the write request via the first communicationdevice 13 (S53 and S54).

Next, in a case where the write data is transmitted from the computenode 2 (S55), the first communication device 13 of the “write requestreception node” transmits the write data to the frontend module 20 ofits own node (S56).

The frontend module 20 having received the write data stores the writedata in the buffer region secured in step S52 (S57), and then determineswhether or not write processes based on the write request are processesto be performed in its own node (S58).

This determination is performed by referring to the node number field32D (FIG. 7 ) of a row corresponding to the pool volume GVOL designatedas a write destination in the write request among the respective rows ofthe mapping table 32 (FIG. 7 ). Specifically, in a case where a nodenumber stored in the node number field 32D is a node number of its ownnode, the frontend module 20 determines that write processes based onthe write request are processes to be performed in its own node. In acase where a node number stored in the node number field 32D is a nodenumber of another storage node 3, the frontend module 20 determines thatwrite processes based on the write request are processes to be performedin another storage node 3.

In a case where it is determined that write processes based on the writerequest are processes to be performed in its own node in step S58, thefrontend module 20 acquires a storage control module number stored inthe storage control module number field 32E (FIG. 7 ) of a rowcorresponding to the pool volume GVOL designated as a write destinationin the write request in the mapping table 32 of its own node, andtransmits the write request to the storage control module (activestorage control module) 21 of its own node assigned with the storagecontrol module number (S59). In this case, the frontend module 20rewrites the volume number of the pool volume GVOL which is a writedestination included in the write request into a volume number of theinternal volume IVOL correlated with the pool volume GVOL.

The storage control module 21 having received the write request refersto a management table (not illustrated), and specifies the internalvolume IVOL designated as a write destination in the write request, thelogical chunk LC (FIG. 4 ) correlated with a storage region in theinternal volume IVOL, and a storage region in the logical chunk LC. Thestorage control module 21 generates an I/O command in which the logicalchunk LC as a write destination of the write data and the storage regionin the logical chunk LC, specified in the above-described way, aredesignated, and transmits the I/O command to the backend module 23 ofits own node (S60).

In a case where the I/O command is received, the backend module 23refers to a management table (not illustrated), and specifies thestorage device 12 (FIG. 2 ) providing each physical chunk PC (FIG. 4 )correlated with the logical chunk LC designated in the I/O command. In acase where one of the specified storage devices 12 is present in its ownnode, the backend module 23 writes the write data into the logical chunkLC designated in the I/O command, and the storage region of the physicalchunk PC corresponding to the storage region in the logical chunk LC inthe storage device 12 (S61). In a case where the write data has beenwritten to the storage device 12, the backend module 23 transmits awrite completion notification to the storage control module (activestorage control module) 21 of its own node (S62).

In addition to the process in step S61, the backend module 23 transmitsthe I/O command and the write data to the corresponding backend module23 of the storage node 3 (hereinafter, referred to as “another node 2”as appropriate) in which the storage device 12 providing the remainingphysical chunks PC correlated with the logical chunk LC is present, viathe backend network 6 (S63). As a result, the same write processes as instep S61 is performed in the storage node 3 (“another node 2”) (S64),and, in a case where the write processes are completed, a writecompletion notification is sent to the storage control module 21 of the“write request reception node” via the backend network 6.

In a case where the write completion notification from the backendmodule 23 of its own node and write completion notifications from thebackend modules 23 of all other necessary storage nodes 3 are received,the storage control module 21 of the “write request reception node”notifies the frontend module 20 of a completion notification indicatingthat the requested write processes are completed (S76). The frontendmodule 20 having received the completion notification transmits acompletion notification indicating that the write processescorresponding to the write request are completed, to the compute node 2which is a transmission source of the write request via the firstcommunication device 13 and the storage service network 5 (S77 and S78).As mentioned above, a series of write processes based on the writerequest is finished.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that write processesbased on the write request are processes to be performed in anotherstorage node 3 in the determination in step S58, the frontend module 20of the “write request reception node” transmits the write request to thestorage node 3 (hereinafter, referred to as “another node 1” asappropriate) assigned with a node number stored in the node number field32D (FIG. 7 ) of a row corresponding to the pool volume GVOL designatedas a write destination in the write request in the mapping table 32(FIG. 7 ) (S66). The write request is transmitted via the backendnetwork 6.

The frontend module 20 of “another node 1” having received the writerequest secures a buffer region with a necessary capacity on the memory11 (FIG. 2 ) of its own node on the basis of the transmitted writerequest (S67).

Next, the frontend module 20 refers to the mapping table 32 stored inthe memory 11 of its own node, and acquires a storage control modulenumber stored in the storage control module number field 32E (FIG. 7 )of a row corresponding to the pool volume GVOL designated as a writedestination in the write request in the mapping table 32, and transmitsthe write request to the storage control module (active storage controlmodule) 21 of its own node assigned with the storage control modulenumber (S68). In this case, the frontend module 20 notifies the storagecontrol module 21 of information (hereinafter, referred to as buffersecuring information) indicating that a buffer region with a necessarycapacity is secured in step S67.

The storage control module 21 having received the write requestdetermines whether or not a buffer region is secured on the basis of thewrite request and the buffer securing information sent from the frontendmodule 20 as described above (S69), and transmits a determination resultthereof to the frontend module 20 of its own node (S70). Thus, thefrontend module 20 having received the determination result transmits aresponse regarding whether or not a buffer region with a necessarycapacity is secured on the memory 11 in step S67 to the frontend module20 of the “write request reception node” via the backend network 6(S71).

In a case where the frontend module 20 of “another node 1” cannot securea buffer region with a necessary capacity on the memory 11, the frontendmodule 20 of the “write request reception node” having received theresponse transmits an error notification indicating the fact to thecompute node 2 which is a transmission source of the write request viathe first communication device 13, and finishes this series of writeprocesses.

In contrast, in a case where the frontend module 20 of “another node 1”can secure a buffer region with a necessary capacity on the memory 11,the frontend module 20 of the “write request reception node” transmitswrite data to “another node 1” via the backend network 6 (S72).

The frontend module 20 of “another node 1” having received the writedata stores the received write data in the buffer region secured in stepS67 (S73). Next, the same data write processes as the data writeprocesses described in steps S59 to S61 and steps S63 and S64 areperformed in “another node 1” (S74), and, in a case where the data writeprocesses are completed, a write completion notification is transmittedfrom the frontend module 20 of the “another node 1” to the storagecontrol module 21 of the “write request reception node” via the backendnetwork 6 (S75).

Thus, in this case, if the write completion notification from thebackend module 23 of “another node 1” and write completion notificationsfrom the backend modules 23 of all other necessary storage nodes 3 arereceived, the storage control module 21 of the “write request receptionnode” notifies the frontend module 20 of its own node of a completionnotification indicating that the requested write processes are completed(S76). The frontend module 20 having received the completionnotification transmits a completion notification indicating that thewrite processes corresponding to the write request are completed, to thecompute node 2 which is a transmission source of the write request viathe first communication device 13 and the storage service network 5 (S77and S78). As mentioned above, a series of write processes based on thewrite request is finished.

(5-2) Flow of Read Processes

FIG. 16 illustrates a flow of read processes performed in the cluster 7in a case where a read request is given to any one of storage nodes 3forming the cluster 7 from the compute node 2. In the followingdescription, the storage node 3 having received a read request in thecluster 7 will be referred to as a “read request reception node” asappropriate.

In the read request, a volume number of the pool volume GVOL which is aread destination, a leading address of a storage region which is a readdestination in the pool volume GVOL, and a data length of read targetdata (hereinafter, referred to as read data) are designated.

In a case where the write request is received (S80), the firstcommunication device 13 of the “read request reception node” transmitsthe received read request to the frontend module 20 of its own node(S81). The frontend module 20 analyzes the transmitted read request, anddetermines whether or not read processes based on the read request areprocesses to be performed in its own node (S82).

This determination is performed by referring to the node number field32D (FIG. 7 ) of a row corresponding to the pool volume GVOL designatedas a read destination in the read request among the respective rows ofthe mapping table 32 (FIG. 7 ). Specifically, in a case where a nodenumber stored in the node number field 32D is a node number of its ownnode, the frontend module 20 determines that read processes based on theread request are processes to be performed in its own node. In a casewhere a node number stored in the node number field is a node number ofanother storage node 3, the frontend module 20 determines that readprocesses based on the read request are processes to be performed inanother storage node 3.

In a case where it is determined that read processes based on the readrequest are processes to be performed in its own node in step S82, thefrontend module 20 acquires a storage control module number stored inthe storage control module number field 32E (FIG. 7 ) of a rowcorresponding to the pool volume GVOL designated as a read destinationin the read request in the mapping table 32 (FIG. 7 ) stored in thememory 11 (FIG. 2 ) of its own node, and transmits the read request tothe storage control module (active storage control module) 21 of its ownnode assigned with the storage control module number (S83). In thiscase, the frontend module 20 rewrites the volume number of the poolvolume GVOL which is a read destination included in the read requestinto a volume number of the internal volume IVOL correlated with thepool volume GVOL.

The storage control module 21 having received the read request refers toa management table (not illustrated), and specifies the internal volumeIVOL designated as a read destination in the read request, the logicalchunk LC correlated with a storage region in the internal volume IVOL,and a storage region in the logical chunk LC. The storage control module21 generates an I/O command in which the logical chunk LC as a readdestination and the storage region in the logical chunk LC, specified inthe above-described way, are designated, and transmits the I/O commandto the backend module 23 of its own node (S84).

In a case where the I/O command is received, the backend module 23refers to a management table (not illustrated), and specifies thestorage device 12 providing one physical chunk PC among the physicalchunks PC correlated with the logical chunk LC designated in the I/Ocommand. Here, it is assumed that the selected physical chunk PC isprovided by the storage device 12 mounted in the “read request receptionnode”. The backend module 23 reads data stored in the logical chunk LCdesignated in the I/O command, and the storage region of the physicalchunk PC corresponding to the storage region in the logical chunk LC inthe specified storage device 12 (S85). The backend module 23 transmitsthe read data to the storage control module 21 of its own node (S86).

The storage control module 21 having received the read data transmitsthe read data to the frontend module 20 of its own node (S87). Thefrontend module 20 having received the read data transmits the read datato the compute node 2 which is a transmission source of the read requestvia the first communication device 13 and the storage service network 5(S88 and S89). As mentioned above, a series of read processes based onthe read request is finished.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that read processesbased on the read request are processes to be performed in anotherstorage node 3 in the determination in step S82, the frontend module 20of the “read request reception node” transmits the read request to thestorage node 3 (hereinafter, referred to as “another node” asappropriate) assigned with a node number stored in the node number field32D (FIG. 7 ) of a row corresponding to the pool volume GVOL designatedas a write destination in the write request in the mapping table 32(FIG. 7 ) (S90). The read request is transmitted via the backend network6.

The frontend module 20 of “another node” having received the readrequest analyzes the received read request (S91). The frontend module 20refers to the mapping table 32 stored in the memory 11 of its own node,and acquires a storage control module number stored in the storagecontrol module number field 32E (FIG. 7 ) of a row corresponding to thepool volume GVOL designated as a read destination in the read request inthe mapping table 32, and transmits the read request to the storagecontrol module (active storage control module) 21 of its own nodeassigned with the storage control module number (S92). In this case, avolume number the pool volume GVOL which is a read destination includedin the read request is written into a volume number of the internalvolume IVOL correlated with the pool volume GVOL.

Next, the same data read processes as the data read processes in stepsS84 to S86 are performed in “another node” (S93), and, data (read data)read from the corresponding storage device 12 through the data readprocesses is transmitted from the frontend module 20 of the “anothernode” to the frontend module 20 of the “read request reception node” viathe backend network 6 (S94).

The frontend module 20 of the “read request reception node” havingreceived the read data transmits the read data to the compute node 2which is a transmission source of the read request via the firstcommunication device 13 and the storage service network 6 (S88 and S89).As mentioned above, a series of read processes based on the read requestis finished.

(6) Effects of Present Embodiment

As mentioned above, in the information processing system 1 of thepresent embodiment, the internal volume IVOL is created in correlationwith the storage control module 21 disposed in each of the storage nodes3, and the created internal volume IVOL is correlated with the poolvolume GVOL provided to the compute node 2 as a storage region forreading/writing data.

In the information processing system 1, in a case where an I/O requestfrom the compute node 2 is given to the storage node 3, the frontendmodule 20 of the storage node 3 specifies the storage node 3 in whichthe internal volume IVOL correlated with the pool volume GVOL designatedas a read/write destination in the I/O request is disposed, transmitsthe I/O request to the corresponding storage control module 21 of itsown node in a case where the specified storage node 3 is its own node,and transmits the I/O request to another storage node 3 in a case wherethe specified storage node 3 is another storage node 3.

Therefore, according to the information processing system 1, the computenode 2 can access desired data without being aware of the storage node 3which is an issue destination of an I/O request regardless of executionof scale-out of the storage node 3. Therefore, according to the presentembodiment, it is possible to realize the information processing system1 having high expandability.

According to the information processing system 1, since the frontendmodule 20 performs all processes related to scale-out, and the storagecontrol module 21 performs only a process completed in its own node,control software used for an existing storage device may be used as thestorage control module 21.

(7) Other Embodiments

In the above-described embodiment, a description has been made of a casewhere the internal volume IVOL and the pool volume GVOL are correlatedwith each other on a one-to-one basis, the present invention is notlimited thereto, and a plurality of pool volumes GVOL may be correlatedwith a single internal volume IVOL.

In the above-described embodiment, a description has been made of a casewhere the present invention is applied to the information processingsystem 1 configured as in FIG. 1 , but the present invention is notlimited thereto, and may be widely applied to other types of informationprocessing systems.

In the above-described embodiment, a description has been made of a casewhere the frontend module 20, the storage control module 21, the backendmodule 23, and the like of each storage node 3 are configured bysoftware, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and themodules may be configured by hardware.

In the above-described embodiment, a description has been made of a casewhere the cluster control module 25 is disposed in each of the storagenodes 3, one cluster control module 25 thereof is selected as the mastercluster control module 25, and the master cluster control module 25performs the above-described various processes, but the presentinvention is not limited thereto, and a server apparatus which functionsas the master cluster control module 25 may be provided separately fromthe storage node 3 without disposing the cluster control module 25 ineach storage node 3.

A hypervisor may operate on a server, one or a plurality of virtualmachines may operate on the hypervisor, and the various softwareillustrated in FIG. 3 may operate on the virtual machines. In otherwords, the various programs (the frontend module 20, the storage controlmodules 21, capacity control module 22, the backend module 23, thecluster control module 25 and the node control module 26) may operate onhardware of a physical computer, and may also operate on a virtualmachine. Similarly, the compute node 2 may be an application program(host program) operating on a virtual machine, and may be a physicalhost computer. In a case where the information processing system 1includes a plurality of servers, some of the servers may be located indifferent sites. Some or all of the servers of the informationprocessing system 1 may be present on a cloud, and may provide servicesto a user via a network.

There may be a configuration (hyper-converged infrastructure) in which avirtual machine on which various software (the frontend module 20, thestorage control modules 21, capacity control module 22, the backendmodule 23, the cluster control module 25 and the node control module 26)operate and a virtual machine on which a host program operates arepresent on the same server (node), and there may be a configuration inwhich the virtual machines are present on different servers connected toeach other via a network.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is widely applicable to systems having variousconfigurations including a plurality of storage nodes.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a cluster formed of aplurality of storage nodes, wherein each of the plurality of storagenodes includes a storage control module that performs input/output (VO)processes based on an I/O request from a host apparatus, wherein, whenreceiving a logical volume creation instruction based on a request froma management apparatus, one of the storage nodes creates one or morevirtual first logical volumes, each of the virtual first logical volumesbeing identified within the cluster, within the one of the storagenodes, wherein the one of the storage nodes creates one or more virtualsecond logical volumes, each of the virtual second logical volumes beingidentified within its own node, in its own node by correlating the oneor more virtual first logical volumes created in its own node with thestorage control module in its own node, wherein a correspondencerelationship between the one or more virtual first logical volumes andthe one or more virtual second logical volumes is registered as mappinginformation, and wherein, when receiving the I/O request from the hostapparatus, one of the storage nodes determines whether or not to processthe I/O request in its own node by determining whether the storagecontrol module correlated via the one or more virtual first logicalvolumes designated as an I/O destination in the I/O request is disposedin its own node or not on a basis of the mapping information.
 2. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein each of the virtual first logicalvolumes is managed as a pool crossing the respective storage nodesforming the cluster.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein themapping information is updated in synchronization between respectivestorage nodes in the cluster, wherein, when receiving the I/O requestfrom the host apparatus, one of the storage nodes determines a targetstorage node in which the correlated storage control module assigns theI/O request to another storage node in a case where the specifiedstorage node is another storage node.
 4. The system according to claim1, wherein each of the virtual first logical volumes is created inassociation with a virtual host volume provided from each of the storagenodes to the host apparatus as a storage region for reading and writingdata, and the correspondence relationship between the first logicalvolume and a second logical volume is registered as the mappinginformation together with the virtual host volume, wherein the I/Orequest from the host apparatus includes information on the virtual hostvolume corresponding to the host apparatus.
 5. The system according toclaim 1, wherein a host volume, target information associated with aphysical port of the storage node, and identification information of thehost apparatus that is configured to access the target information areregistered in association with each other, so that each of the storagenodes identify the host apparatus to which the I/O request istransferred.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the each of theplurality of storage nodes includes a storage control unit whichexecutes processing of the I/O request from the host apparatus; whereina storage control unit in its own node is set to form a storage controlunit pair with the storage control unit disposed in another storage nodewhich is different from its own node; wherein one storage control unitforming the storage control unit pair is set as an active system, andanother storage control unit forming the storage unit control pair isset as a standby system; and wherein the one or more second logicalvolumes is created at the storage node including the storage controlunit which is set as the active system.
 7. The system according to claim6, further comprising a master cluster control device which executesprocessing for controlling the cluster, wherein, when receiving arequest from the management apparatus to create a virtual first logicalvolume of the one or more virtual first logical volumes, the mastercluster control device selects the storage control unit pair suited tocreate the one or more virtual first logical volumes and outputs avirtual first logical volume creation instruction to any one of thestorage nodes belonging to the selected storage control unit pair; andwherein a storage node which has received the logical volume creationinstruction transmits identification information of each of the createdone or more virtual first logical volumes and the one or more virtualsecond logical volumes to the master cluster control device.
 8. Thesystem according to claim 7, wherein the master cluster control deviceselects the storage control unit pair, based on which storage node witha lowest load is set as the active system, and outputs the virtual firstlogical volume creation instruction to a selected storage node.
 9. Thesystem according to claim 6, wherein the storage control module of eachstorage node manages a logical storage region in its own nodecorresponding to one or a plurality of storage devices as an I/Odestination, wherein the logical storage region is provided inplurality, logical storage regions of the respective storage nodesbelonging to the storage control unit pair are managed as one pool andthe one or more virtual second logical volumes is created in correlationwith the one pool, and wherein an active storage node in the storagecontrol unit pair processes a data write request as an I/O request, andtransfers a corresponding write data request to the standby storage nodein the storage control unit pair.
 10. The system according to claim 1,wherein some or all of the storage nodes are present on a cloud andcommunicate the I/O request and process result of the I/O request withthe host apparatus via a network.
 11. A control method for a systemincluding a cluster formed of a plurality of storage nodes, each of thestorage nodes including a storage control module that performsinput/output (VO) processes based on an VO request from a hostapparatus, the control method comprising: a first step in which one ofthe storage nodes, which has received a logical volume creationinstruction based on a request from a management apparatus, creates oneor more virtual first logical volumes being identified in the cluster,within the one of the storage nodes; a second step of creating one ormore virtual second logical volumes, each of the virtual second volumesbeing identified within its own node, in its own node by correlating theone or more virtual first logical volumes created in its own node withthe storage control module in its own node; and a third step in which acorrespondence relationship between the one or more virtual firstlogical volumes and the one or more virtual second logical volumes isregistered as mapping information; wherein, when receiving the I/Orequest from the host apparatus, one of the storage nodes determineswhether or not to process the I/O request in its own node by determiningwhether the storage control module correlated via the one or morevirtual first logical volumes designated as an I/O destination in theI/O request is disposed in the own node or not on a basis of the mappinginformation.
 12. A non-transitory computer readable medium, storinginstructions that are executed in a storage node in a system including acluster formed of a plurality of the storage nodes, each of the storagenodes including a storage control module that performs input/output(I/O) processes based on an I/O request from a host apparatus, theinstructions comprising: a first step of creating a virtual firstlogical volume identifiable in the cluster upon receiving a logicalvolume creation instruction based on a request from a management device;a second step of creating one or more virtual second logical volumes,each of the virtual second volumes being identified within its own node,in its own node by correlating the one or more first logical volumescreated in its own node with the storage control module in its own node;and a third step in which a correspondence relationship between the oneor more virtual first volumes and the one or more virtual second logicalvolumes is registered as mapping information; wherein, when receivingthe I/O request from the host apparatus, one of the storage nodesdetermines whether or not to process the I/O request in its own node bydetermining whether the storage control module correlated via the one ormore virtual first logical volumes designated as an I/O destination inthe I/O request is disposed in its own node or not on a basis of themapping information.